Nanosilica modified with moringa extracts to get an efficient and cost-effective shale inhibitor in water-based drilling muds

Wellbore stability in the presence of water-based mud (WBM) is a key challenge for the oil and gas industry. The present work reports the development of a cost-effective, efficient, and environment-friendly shale inhibitor by using Moringa Oleifera cationic protein-modified nanosilica (MOCP-nSiO₂). The functionalized nSiO₂ improved the swelling inhibition features of the shale materials as compared to unmodified nanosilica. The linear swelling, shale inhibition stability, dispersion recovery, and sedimentation tests were utilized to assess the inhibition features of modified WBM. The lMOCP-nSiO₂ modified WBM (lMOCP-nSiO₂-WBM) demonstrates the maximum shale dispersion recovery (90.1%) as compared to sMOCP-nSiO₂-WBM (81.8%), nanosilica (78.7%), unmodified drilling mud (70.2%), KCl (48.6%), and water (25.1%). Improvement in rheological features of the sMOCP-nSiO₂-WBM and lMOCP-nSiO₂-WBM was observed. To confirm the adsorption of cationic protein on the surface of the clay and its inhibition process was inspected by several sorts of methods such as Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The outcomes disclosed that sMOCP-nSiO₂ and lMOCP-nSiO₂ plug the nanopores and carries functional groups that can disturb the hydrogen bonding between water and clay surfaces. Consequently, the clay surface is being protected against water-reactive action.